Saturday, May 7

Italeri’s new items of June 2016: Big trucks, fast jets AEW, and peace in Roman times? See them in our preview

We have some pictures of the box-arts. Sprues, colours, and decals of all of Italeri’s new June kits – they are an interesting set of very different models, let’s see if they interest you at all in our preview…

The Dassault Mirage 2000C is a single-seat air superiority fighter and it has been a reference point for the French aircraft production. Entered into service in the first part of 80’s, it maintained the typical “delta wing” aerodynamic design but, compared to the previous generation French fighters, the Mirage 2000 has adopted significant technical improvements.

Decals for 3 versions in French and UAE service.

Thanks to its SNECMA afterburning turbofan engine, it is able to reach the speed of Mach 2.2. It has a great manoeuvrability and it can carry a various set of offensive weapons. The Mirage 2000C is often considered the first new generation fighter, produced in Europe, to be entered into operational service. The main user has been the French Armée de l’Air, who used the Mirage 2000C during Gulf War on 1991.

The acronym HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) identifies a range eight-wheel drive off-road capable heavy truck, produced from the mid-80s for the United States Army. Thanks to its features, the HEMTT is able to guarantee a great off-road mobility and significant transportation performance. It has become the real “workhorse” of the Army capable of carrying ammunition and equipment in a very effective way.

Decals for 2 versions

In details the M1120 HEMTT LHS (Load Handling System) is equipped with a loading system, that can be used direct from the cabin, able to transport a lot of different types of cargo and containers. The M1120 is capable of carrying a payload of 11 tons. That makes it ideal to perform military logistic duties. It has been recently used in the operative area as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Developed in the early seventies from the American company Northrop, as a direct evolution of its predecessor, the F-5E Tiger II was characterized by an increased power, a better manoeuvrability, and better air-to-air performance. Its real strength, however, was represented by the low production and maintenance costs compared to a good combat effectiveness. Thanks to its cost / performance ratio the F-5E was chosen to equip the fighter squadrons of several air forces.

Decals for 6 versions in USAF & Swiss service.

Among these countries, the Swiss Air Force considered the F-5E suitable to meet the real unique features of which the Alpine Country needed. It was also produced under license by the Helvetic country. From the single-seat F-5E, the two-seat trainer F5-F has been directly derived. Armed with a single M39 gun, it keeps all the main operating features of the single-seat version.

"Le Centaur" has been presented as a single unit “show truck” at the Paris Motor Show in 1978. The starting development point was the well-known Berliet TR 350 equipped with a 15-liter V8 turbo engine, with a power of 356 hp. The truck has been made on Marcel Benoit inputs with the goal to present, during the Paris exhibition, something able to create enthusiasm and something different from the standard vehicles present on the market, at that time. “Le Centaur” project brings the name of two people:

The French designer Lucien Moge and the Jean Pierre Augier, the developer of Lamberet truck body. After 15 days of non-stop working, in the Lamberet bodywork factory, “Le Centaur” was born. Le Centaur was launched on the market in two different versions: the 356 Hp and the “smaller” 305 Hp. On 1980, for the effect of the line-up merge between Renault and Berliet, “Le Centaur” adopt the Renault brand and changed progressively the commercial name: Berliet TR 356 and Renault R360.

During the first Century B.C. a long period of internal civil wars declared the end of the Roman Republic and it laid the foundation for the birth of the Roman Empire. During the first Century exceptional political and military leaders, as Julius Caesar, wrote impressive historical pages thanks to military campaigns that expand the Roman border towards more and more distant frontiers. The most famous campaign, well described directly by Julius Cesar in his “De Bello Gallico”, was conducted against the Gauls led by Vercingetorix and ended with the Roman victory at Alesia in 52 BC.

The effectiveness and organization of the roman legions triumphed over the courage of the Celtic warriors. The military campaigns had gradually expanded the Roman borders until arriving in Britain and on the "Limes" of the Rhine river. However, the Romans brought in the conquered lands, a political, legislative and cultural model completely new and innovative who contributed, for several years, to achieve a stable and definitely evolved social system.

During the last few years, the Curtainside became more and more the standard trailer for various freight transport. Due to the possibility to slide the canvas sides, it is easy to load and unload merchandise.

Our model represents a 3-axle trailer with frame protection and solid tailgates, as it is generally used all over Europe.

The Douglas Skyraider was manufactured immediately after War World II. Despite its traditional piston motor, in an age when jets were spreading, the Skyraider had an extraordinary long career. It made its first flight in 1945 and it was retired from service only in 1975. It has participated in several conflicts, demonstrating its value in Korea and in Vietnam. Characterised by low-speed manoeuvrability, it was able to transport impressive war cargos of over 3,500Kg.

Decals for 4 versions in RAN & USAF service

Perfect for ground attack missions, it was provided with robust armour to minimise fire damages from the enemy. The AD-4W three-seat (one pilot and two observers) airborne “early warning” version has been developed from its robust and reliable design. It has built in more than 150 units and it has been characterized by the big “radome”, the adoption of radar picket system to look and acquire potential targets, and the adoption of advanced communication system.